Crucible support



Jan. 21, 1941. R. D. YORK 4 2,229,359

\ cRUoIBLE SUPPORT Filed sept. A27, i938 7f- 52 f /Q n //////z Z9 NSw Patented Jan. 21, 1941 PATENT OFFICE cnUcIBLE SUPPORT Raymond D. York, University, Va., assignor to Raymond D. York, as trustee Application September 27, 1938, Serial No. 232,005

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a crucible support and more. particularly to a support which will facilitate the handling of a crucible in carrying the crucible to and from a furnace.

The principal object of this invention is to provide mechanism which is particularly convenient and eicient for use in engaging and supporting a crucible during that time in which the crucible is being carried to and from a furnace.

A further object is to provide a tong mechanism having gripping members carried by supporting members and movable into or out of engagement with an article to be supported, and to provide locking mechanism for preventing movementof thegripping members toward the article to be supported thereby.

A further object is to provide a tong mechanism having gripping members movable into or out of engagement with an article to be supported thereby, and locking mechanism for preventing movement of the gripping members into engagement with the article to be supported, the locking mechanism having means whereby initial movement of the gripping members away from the article will operate to release the locking mechanism to permit movement of the gripping members into engagement with the article.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will 'become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the drawing I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the mechanism showing a crucible supported thereby.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a plan View of one of the lever elements,

' Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of the locking mechanism, and

Figure 5 is a face view of a gripping member mounted on its supporting arm.

Referring to Figure 1,.the numeral Il! indicates a crucible shown as being supported by tong mechanism indicated as a whole by the numeral II. The mechanism II supports gripping members I2 and is operable to move such members into or out of engagement with the crucible I in a manner to be described.

The tong mechanism II comprises two similar and oppositely positioned members I3 having the gripping members I2 mounted on the lower ends I4 thereof in a manner to be described. The members I3 are formed in the shape of bell crank levers and the upper arms I5 thereof are pivotally connected to links I5 at the points I'I and I8. The links I6 are pivotally connected to each other by a common pivot I9.

The bell crank levers I3 are provided with lugs 23 which are drilled for the insertion of bolts or pivot pins 2| forming pivotal supports for the levers I3. The pivots 2I pass through and are xedly spaced from each other by members 23 which are mounted on opposite sides of the lugs as best shown in Figure 2,

A locking member has its lower end mounted between and supported by the members 23 and is secured thereto by suitable fastening means such as the rivets 26. The member 25 is provided with a notch 21 for the purpose of receiving a latch pin 28. The latch pin 28 is supported by parallel spaced links 29 which are drilled as at 30 for connection to the common pivot I9: It will be ap'- parent that the links 29 together with the latch pin 28 are pivotally movable about the pin I9. The upper end of the member 25 is tapered as at 3i for the purpose of guiding the latch pin 28 toward the notch 21 formed on the member 25.

Referring to Figure 3 showing a plan view of one of the bell crank levers I3, it will be noted that the lever is offset as at 39 from the center line 39 of the lug 25. The other lever arm I5 is offsetto the opposite side of the center line 39 and accordingly it will be apparent that the arms I5 are in spaced parallel relation thus permitting free relative movement of each lever I3 and also providing a space for the reception of the member 25. It will also'l be noted that the pivotal movement of each lever I3 will be equal by reason of the upper ends I5 being equal in length and respectively connected to identical links I6 by the pivot pins I'I and I8, the links I6 being connected to each other by the common pivot I9.y The entire mechanism may be suspended from a link 32 which is secured to the common pivot I9.

The gripping members I2 are formed so that the gripping surface presented to the crucible to be supported will follow the contour of the crucible, and the members I2 are removably secured to the lower ends I4 of the levers I3. Each of the members I2 is formed with a pair of lugs 3 spaced from each other a distance approximately equal to the thickness of the arm I4, as best shown in Figure 5. Abutments 34 are formed on the lower ends of the arms I4. Openings are formed vin the arms I4 tok permit the insertion of wedges 36. For the purpose of providing a key lit of the lugs 33 with abutments 34, it will be noted that the contacting faces of these elements slope inwardly and upwardly as at 35 toward the article to be engaged. The wedges 36 are driven into engagement with the upper edges of the lugs 33 to securely hold the lower edges thereof in engagement with abutments 34. There is thus provided a simple and effective means for detachably securing the gripping members I 2 to the arms I4 and the members I2 may be removed for replacement or to permit the use of others conforming to the shape of crucible which is to be handled.

The gripping members I2 being replaceable for the purpose of permitting the use of others conforming to the size of crucible to be supported, means are preferably provided to properly position the members I2 with respect to the side of the crucible. To this end, an adjustable holddown plate 40 is provided which may be brought into contact with the top 31 of the crucible. Lugs 4I are formed on the plate 40 and are provided with elongated slots 42. The lugs 4I are positioned and slidable between the members 23 to enable the plate 40 to be adjustably positioned relative to the tong mechanism according to the size of the crucible to be lifted. To secure the plate 4l! to the members 23, fastening devices 43 are provided which pass through the slots 42. When the fastening devices 43 are tightened, the inner surfaces of the members 23 will be caused to frictionally engage the sides of the lugs 4I to securely hold the same in any desired position. Obviously, a scale may be marked on the lugs lll to facilitate the determination of the proper position of the plate 40 relative to the tong mechanism for the particular size of crucible and gripping members to be used.

It will be apparent that the member 40 may be raised or lowered with respect to the tong mechanism II to permit a proper fit of the gripping members I2 with respect to the side 0f the crucible. The adjustable plate 40 will also function to eifect the release of the locking mechanism after it is brought in contact with the top 31 of the crucible in a manner to be described.

The operation of the mechanism is as follows:

When it is desired to use the mechanism II for supporting a crucible, the latch pin 28 is first inserted in notch 21 after lowering the pivot I9 to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. By reason of the fact that the pivot I9 is con- .Y nected to the bell crank levers I3 bythe identical links I6 and the fact that the upper arms I5 of the levers I3 are positioned above the lower arms I4 and extend inwardl7 with respect to their pivots 2|, it will be apparent that downward movement of the common pivot I9 will cause a pivotal movement of the levers I3 about points 2| which will result in movement of the arms I4 and gripping members I2 in a direction away from each other.

With the pin 28 engaged in the notch 21, the arms I4 and gripping members I2 will be locked against movement towards each other and the device will be ready for operation. It will be necessary to first release the locking mechanism before the gripping members I2 can be brought into engagement with the article to be supported. This is accomplished, when it is desired to lift a crucible, for example, by lowering the mechanism II until theplate 40 engages the top 31 of the crucible Il). After engagement of the plate 40 with the top 31, the pin I9 will be forced downwardly causing the locking pin 28 to ride out of notch 21, the lower surface 38 of notch 21 being given a sloping surface to accomplish this result. Obviously, downward movement of the pin 28 to release it from the notch 21 will cause an initial movement of the gripping members I2 outwardly from the crucible.

After the releasing of the pin 28 from the notch 21, the gripping members I2 will be free for movement into engagement with the article to be supported. The weight of the arms I4 and gripping members I2 will be sufficient to cause an initial pivotal movement of levers I3 and movement of the members I2 into engagement with the crucible. This movement will carry the pin 28 past notch 21 and the friction provided by the connection of links 2S to pivot I9 will be sufficient to prevent any tendency of pin 28 to reenter notch 21.

With the gripping members I2 in engagement with the sides of the crucible I0, the Weight of the crucible may be transferred to the mechanism I I and supported thereby through the gripping members by lifting the mechanism upwardly through link 32. The gripping members I 2 being positioned below the center of the crucible Iii, any tendency of the crucible I to move downwardly with respect to the gripping members I2 will be prevented by reason of the fact that such movement cannot occur Without outward movement of the gripping members I2. Outward movementof the gripping members I2 cannot occur without relative downward movement of the pivot I9. Such movement of the pivot I9 will be obviously impossible so long as the weights of the tong mechanism and the crucible are suspended from the link 32.

From the foregoing, it Will be apparent that I have provided a simple and eflicient apparatus which will greatly facilitate the removal of crucibles from crucible furnaces. The mechanism may be locked outside the furnace and lowered into contact with the crucible in the furnace, the contact with the crucible rendering the release of the locking mechanism automatic thus enabling the gripping members I2 to move into engagement with the crucible. The crucible may be then safely removed from the furnace.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. An article engaging and supporting device comprising a pair of levers each having a depending article engaging end and an upper end arranged at an angle with respect thereto, said upper ends crossing each other in slightly spaced relation, means for pivotally supporting said arms intermediate their ends, means for effecting upward movement of the free ends of said upper arms to effect movemen-t of said lower arms toward each other, and a latch mechanism operative for preventing upward movement of said means, said latch mechanism comprising a pair of elements one of which is connected to said means and the other of which is relatively stationary and has a portion arranged between said arms at the crossing point thereof.

2. An article engaging and supporting device comprising a pair of levers each having a depending `article engaging end and an upper end arranged at an angle with respect thereto, said upper ends crossing each other in slightly spaced relation, a supporting structure to the ends of which said levers are respectively connected intermediate their ends, means for effecting upward movement of the free ends of said upper arms to move said lower arms toward each other, and a pair of inter-engageable latch elements for preventing upward movement of said means, one of said latch elements being :connected to said means and depending therefrom, the other of such elements being rigidly connected to said supporting structure `and projecting vertically between said upper arms at the crossing point thereof.

3. An article engaging and supporting device comprising a pair of levers each having a depending article engaging end and an upper end arranged at -an angle with respect thereto, said upper ends crossing each other in slightly spaced relation, a supporting structure comprising a pair of spaced parallel Abars to the opposite ends of which said levers are pivotally connected intermediate their ends, means for effecting upward movement of the free ends of said upper arms to move said lower arms .toward each other, and a latch mechanism comprising a pair of elements one of which is connected to said means and depends therefrom and the other of which has its lower end mounted between and rigidly connected to said bars and projects upwardly between said upper arms at the crossing point thereof.

4. An article engaging and supporting device comprising a pair of levers each having a. depending article engaging end and an upper end arranged at an angle with respect thereto, said upper ends crossing each other in slightly spaced relation, a supporting structure comprising a pair of spaced parallel bars to the opposite ends oi which said levers are pivotally connected intermediate their ends, means for eiecting upward movement of the free ends .ci said upper arms to move said lower arms toward each other, and a latch mechanism comprising Ia pair of elements one of which is connected to said means and depends therefrom and the other of which has its lower end mounted between and rigidly connected to said bars land projects upwardly between said upper arms at the crossing point thereof, said iirst named latch element being pivoted at its upper end and having a, pin at its lower end, said second named latch element having a notch engageable and disengageable by said pin upon swinging movement of said rst named latch element, and being provided at its upper end with a cam surface engageable with said pin upon downward movement ,of said means to swing said first named latch element about its pivot.

RAYMOND D. YORK. 

